Mailbox

In this week's edition of Mailbox, we give you a few tips on where to look for information on the Czech Republic, find out how you can get a Czech film shipped to you, introduce the competition question for the month of April, and of course announce the winner of last month's competition!

Mailbox

Zelary movie

In past editions of Mailbox, I have explained that with the full time staff of Radio Prague's English department only consisting of seven reporters, we can only answer questions concerning our station or a topic we reported on. I'm afraid we cannot possibly help you find a Czech relative or buy a Czech movie and ship it to you, even if you offer to cover all expenses. But what I failed to mention was that you can find a wide range of very useful contacts for ministries, organisations, institutions, etc. on our website www.radio.cz/english. We are aware of the fact that some of you do not have Internet access; just send us a request to Vinohradska 12, 120 99 Prague 2, the Czech Republic, and we'll be happy to send you the contacts by regular post.

Questions on Czech films seem to be extremely popular. For example Martin Welsh from Sydney, Australia wrote:

"You have been reporting a lot about the Czech film Zelary. I'm a Czech cinematography fanatic but can't find the movie anywhere. Does it have a different name in English? Can you please point me in the right direction?"

Zelary does not have an English name and is not in distribution yet. But if you have doubts in the future about the name of a Czech film, a good movie database can be found at www.imdb.com (imdb = Internet Movie Database). Once you know what movie you want (also applies to CDs and DVDs), log onto www.bontonland.cz, where you can order it and have it shipped to you. You can also call an operator at [phone] on working days from 9.00 to 16.00 hours.

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Since the annual competition was launched a week ago, the English section of Radio Prague has only received five entries. I hope that's because you're still getting inspired. For those of you who are not aware of what you need to do to enter; send us a few lines on what Czech music means to you and with a bit of luck, we'll see you here in Prague as the main prize is one week in the Czech capital. There will also be a number of attractive runner-up prizes. Please get your answers to us by June 15.

And we're in the first week of April, which means that it's time to announce the winner of last month's competition. The question was: "How many anniversaries did the Year of Czech Music celebrate in the month of March? Nine, eleven, or thirteen?"

The correct answer was "eleven" and the listener we picked out of our hat was Mr RICHARD CHEN from TRINIDAD. Congratulations, Mr Chen!!!! I think you were especially lucky because as far as I know, you are the only person from Trinidad and Tobago, who has written to Radio Prague - I wonder whether you're also the only one who listens to us in your country! It would be nice if you sent us a few lines on what's got you interested in Czech affairs...anyway, a CD with Bedrich Smetana's "My Homeland" is on the way to you.

And finally, here's the question for the month of April:

"On May first, the Czech Republic becomes an EU member. What other big event will Czechs celebrate as part of the Year of Czech Music? "

Send your answers to the Radio Prague English Section, 120 99 Prague 2, the Czech Republic or by e-mail to [email protected]. They should get to us by April 30.